Thursday, July 7, 2011

A bison trying to get some rest on a hot summer day doesn' t even realize that there is a cowbird on his head.

Cowbirds follow herds of bison to catch and eat the insects that are stirred up from the bison's feet. The bison allow the birds to sit and rest as they guard them from the pests. It is what is called a symbiotic relationship.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Thousands of years ago, glaciers advanced from the north. They flowed into and around Cypress Hills, leaving this plateau untouched. This is one of the few areas in Western Canada that escaped glaciation. As the glaciers melted, water carved steep sided valleys into the northern and western slopes.

Horseshoe Canyon, below, was formed long after the surrounding glaciers had left the land. Water soaking through the ground froze, expanded and thawed, forming ever widening cracks. A horseshoe shaped area weakened and slid into the valley.

Taken from the Horseshoe Canyon Lookout in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park in both Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada.